Eldon Otis Hecht

Eldon Otis Hecht, 87, passed away Tuesday, April 16, 2013, at the Comanche County Hospital in Coldwater, KS.
Eldon was born in Smith Center, KS on December 24, 1925, to Ernest C. and Ella (Rayl) Hecht, joining his older sister, Ernestine. The family moved to Clovis, NM not long afterwards. In the 1930's, two brothers arrived, first Dale, and then Darrell. Eldon spent his childhood growing up on a farm, but the Depression was tough on the Hechts in many ways. The farm was lost; the family split, and Eldon and his brother Dale returned with their father to Kansas, ultimately joining several of Ernest's brothers in Coldwater in 1941.
Eldon attended Coldwater High School in the early 1940's and worked at various jobs, including running the projector at the Chief Theater and helping his father and his Hecht uncles with their work. In December 1943, while a junior at CHS, Eldon turned 18 and received his draft notice. He was inducted into the U.S. Army, missing his senior year. Eldon completed basic training and was assigned to the 78th Infantry Division in August 1944. Eldon often said that there were 10 grandsons of C.H. Hecht living in Comanche County during World War II, and all ten were drafted.
The 78th was sent to the European Theater as a replacement division, arriving in October 1944. Eldon entered combat with the 311th Infantry Regiment on December 10, 1944, joining the First Army's Huertgen Forest offensive in progress. Less than a week later, on December 16, 1944, the Germans launched the Ardennes Counteroffensive. Eldon and the 311th found themselves in the thick of the Battle of the Bulge, holding their position at the northern shoulder of the German breakout. Beginning with the Huertgen offensive and continuing through the end of the European war, Eldon participated in other notable engagements with the 78th, including its capture of the Schwammenauel Dam on the Roer River and as the first infantry division to cross the Rhine River at Remagen. All told, Eldon was in combat for 140 days. Among other citations, he received the Combat Infantryman Badge and the Bronze Star, and, with his unit, he received three Battle Stars and two Presidential Unit Citations.
After Eldon's honorable discharge and return to Coldwater, he earned his GED and enrolled in the Salt City Business College at Hutchinson. Driving back and forth from Coldwater with a group of students, Eldon became acquainted with Anna Marie Schenk. Along with Jude and Mary Goodale, the pair eloped in 1949 and returned to Coldwater to make their home and raise four children. They would have been married 64 years on May 6.
Throughout his life, Eldon held various jobs and civic positions; he loved his country and his community, and he always tried to contribute. Early on, he was Deputy Sheriff for Comanche County, managed the Houston Doughty Lumber Yard, and owned H & H Appliance, a mechanic shop, and a welding business. Later, he was an officer in Peoples State Bank, and while there, graduated from the Colorado School of Banking. Afterwards, he was an officer and director of the Coldwater National Bank and the Wilmore State Bank. Eldon was also a licensed real estate broker, auctioneer, and appraiser. Eldon served on the Coldwater City Council for 10 years, served a term as Comanche County Commissioner, and was a director of the Comanche County Medical Foundation. He was president of the Lions Club and the Chamber of Commerce, was treasurer for the local Salvation Army and the local March of Dimes, and was service officer for the American Legion and quartermaster for the VFW. Eldon was a member of Prairie Vale Friends Church for 29 years and the Coldwater United Methodist Church for 33 years.
Eldon was a great storyteller. He talked often about growing up during the Depression, and the hard work, tough conditions and camaraderie he experienced with his brother, Dale, and their father. Eldon was eager to recount his wartime experiences, whether humorous, exciting, or terrifying. He expressed fearsome wonder at superior German weaponry (describing, with sound effects, German machine guns, V-1 rockets, and artillery) – he saw his first jet airplane, the ME-262, while crossing the Rhine. He described the terror associated with being strafed or shelled, and the humorous release of buddies sharing their escapades when the fear of the moment passed. He talked about how grateful he was to return to the States and how he was overcome with emotion. He also told stories of people encountered and events experienced over the course of his long life. He always had a new story.
Survivors include his wife, Anna Marie, his children, Rhonda (Jerry) Canady of Anderson, IN, Sharon Roland of Emporia, KS, Nancy (Mitch) Reece of Shawnee, KS, and Scott (Shelley) Hecht of Lansing, KS. Eldon was blessed with 12 grandchildren: Nathaniel (Kate), Gabe (Dawn), and Caitlynn Canady; Andrew, Rian, and Eric Roland; Stephen, Malayia, and Brianna Reece; and Hannah, Jake, and Ally Hecht; along with 3 great-grandsons, Isaiah and Jude Canady, and Sam Waters. Eldon is also survived by a brother, Dale (Yvonne) Hecht of El Granada, CA, and many nieces, nephews, and friends.
Eldon was preceded in death by his parents, his sisters, Ruth Gilliland and Ernestine Tucker, and his brother, Darrell Hecht.

Friends may call from 1:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m., Thursday, April 18, 2013, at Hatfield-Prusa Funeral Home, Coldwater, KS.

Funeral service is at 2:00 p.m., Friday, April 19, 2013, at the United Methodist Church in Coldwater, KS, with Rev. Gary Merritt, Rev. Mitch Reece, and Rev. Jerry Canady presiding.

Burial will follow the funeral service at Crown Hill Cemetery in Coldwater, KS, with full military honors.

Memorials may be sent to Coldwater United Methodist Church, Comanche County Hospital, or Comanche County Health Department in care of Hatfield-Prusa Funeral Home, P.O. Box 417, Coldwater, KS 67029.